US school shooting

No doubt you'd have heard about the massacre at Virginia Tech in the US by now, with 33 dead and 15 wounded. It saddens me to see yet another brutal act and the many lives lost in a place as George Bush said, should be a place of learning and a sanctuary.

What saddens and bothers me more is looking at the history of shootings in the US to find the majority of cases in the past 20 years either initiated or aimed at young people. There are 20 school shootings in the last 10 years and 3/4 of them are by teenagers.

I can't help but wonder why a country, known to be Christian would have so much killings at such a young age. Are Christians not having the impact that they should have in their society? Or is it because of their faith that Satan gets into overdrive? Or perhaps it is something else?

There's a fundamental problem with the right to bear firearms. Where's that coming from? Some will say "self defense". Ok, but doesn't God said He'll protect us? Doesn't God ask us to live in peace with one another? And if, as they declare in their coins and around the world that it is "in God we trust", how does carrying firearms then support that belief?

This leads me to think about the issue of "rights". I remember going through my young adult years being told to fight for my rights. Rights to do and behave the way I like, rights to challenge and dispute ideas and practices not agreeing with the way I live. Basically, rights for everything. Of course, there are something that's universal to every human's existence. But as a society, are we pushing individual rights too far to the extent that it's coming back to bite us? Look at the right to bear firearms in the US and what it leads to? What about gay rights? Rights to die? Rights to be happy? And rights to vent my anger on others because they make me unhappy? Can you see a pattern there?

What are rights anyway? Is it based on God's principles? Paul took advantage of his privileges as a Roman citizen, and others also enjoy privileges that come with their work or role in the society. But privileges isn't a one way street, it comes with obligations and responsibilities. What's more, I can't honestly find anyone in the Bible exerting or claiming their rights. And I wonder why not. I guess because rights really exist to protect our own interests, it's self focused and contrary to God's principles.

If we're all created in God's image, that means we all possess values and characteristics of God and the ability to achieve godliness. And if we follow God's moral law in the Bible such as those in the 10 commandments. What needs do we have for rights? In fact, I don't see Jesus fighting for his rights. When Jesus was questioned by the high priest, he didn't object by claiming that he has a right to free speech, or the right to choose his own title. Jesus asked us to be meek, humble and turn the other cheek.

I was actually surprised to hear that the right to bear firearms is enshrined in the US Constitution. I soon find out that their bill of rights traces its origin to natural rights which is based on natural law and has its roots in Greek philosophy. It aims at human happiness and says that we all have a natural tendency to look after our own interest and seek what's best for ourselves. Therefore we have the right to follow our nature. It's not hard to know what that leads. If we are to follow our nature and our nature is fallen, then it'll inevitably lead to rebellion against God, whatever form they come.

The Virginia shooting is an example of what following our fallen human nature results in. But it also highlights the danger of mixing scriptures with worldly ideas. I also note that other factors come into play in this tragedy. Pressure to succeed, individualism, the media are just some of them which I won't comment here.